No one else was physically injured as a result of the incident. Investigations are continuing and police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

Ms Lock is the 62nd person to die as a result of domestic violence this year, according to Destroy the Joint, which began keeping a tally of the deaths earlier this year.

Karina Lock. Photo from Facebook

YOUR TRIBUTES FROM OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

Ann-Louise Masters - Our beautiful Karina

Christoford Anderson - So sad

Nikki Coe - RIP so tragic!

Kerrie Anne Doyle - Rip...condolences to the family....such a tragedy.....why???

Carolyn Hogan - My nephew usually does the morning shift there. Thank God he wasn't rostered for this morning.

Kim Joynson - Our thoughts are with all the staff. It will be a hard weekend for all. Prayers for the strength to cope. It is terrible it happened at such a place that should be full of fun and laughter.

Katrina Davis - Poor thing rip

Mel Horne - Just so sad! RIP

Julie Braddock - Rebecca Braddock, I'm so glad you've been texting me

Sara Lewis - Just awful, thoughts are with her family and the employees of that McDonald's

Flo Holmes - So Sad , why all this violence!!

EARLIER: Gold Coast shooting tragic end for a much loved mother

MARYBOROUGH is mourning the tragic loss of former pharmacy assistant and much loved mother Karina Lock who was shot dead at a Gold Coast fast food outlet.

Ms Lock had worked at Luxton's Pharmacy in Maryborough.

After news broke of her death, friends spoke of her "beautiful smile" and how they would miss Ms Lock.

They were too distraught to speak further.

Ms Lock was allegedly shot by her estranged husband at a McDonalds restaurant at Helensvale.

She had just moved to the area from Maryborough in recent weeks.

The shooting happened about 9.18am on Thursday when the woman met with her former partner in the car park.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Procter said the 49-year-old woman had agreed to meet with the man, 57, to work out the details of their separation when the incident happened.

The woman ran into McDonalds with the man following her.

He followed her into the restaurant's dining area where police claim he shot her in the head before turning the weapon on himself.

TRAGEDY: Maryborough woman Karina Lock died in a shooting inside a McDonald’s restaurant in Helensvale on the Gold Coast.AAP

Despite police attempts to save her the woman died on the scene and the man was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital with what police described as "critical injuries to the head".

The man was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital with what police described as "critical injuries to the head".

Det Snr Sgt Procter said the man was on life support. It is believed he will not survive his injuries.

He said there was a history of domestic violence between the couple, but it was dated.

A protection order existed, but it had been due to expire soon.

Almost one person every day was assaulted or harassed by someone breaching their domestic violence prevention order on the Fraser Coast in June, according to Queensland Police figures.

Gold Coast Detective Inspector Mark White described the scene of yesterday's shooting as "graphic and tragic".

He said the investigation was in its early stages with speaking to the witnesses as well as examining the store's CCTV footage.

He said many customers were highly distressed after witnessing the alleged shooting.

"Some of them are actually quite distraught," he said.

He said police were assisting traumatised witnesses seek counselling.

In a statement McDonald's Australia said they were assisting police, providing counselling for employees and their thoughts were with the families.

"This is obviously a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the families," the statement said.